Page 119 of Immaculate Deception (Romanoff Bratva)

Ernestine laughs bitterly. “You don’t want June. You’re hoping I’ll give you money so I can keep her, is that it? Well, there isn’t any money, Tommy. There hasn’t been since Rose was taken and you know that.”

“Rose fucking left,” he barks. “She couldn’t swing being a mom, so she bailed. It’s about time you admit that and tell June the truth. It’s sick to make her think her mom is coming back.”

Suddenly, I speak up. “That’s not true.”

This is not my fight, but I can’t stand hearing anyone talk poorly about Rose. She doesn’t deserve it.

Tommy turns to me for the first time since I opened the door, and raises a brow. “And how the fuck do you know? I knew all of Rose’s friends and you ain’t one of ‘em.”

“I met her after she was taken,” I say, standing a bit taller. “I was abducted, too. We were being held by the same captor.”

Tommy blinks. I can tell he isn’t sure if he believes me or not. “She was kidnapped?”

I nod. “And sold on the black market.”

Without warning, he laughs. “If I’d known the bitch was worth something, I would have sold her years ago.”

My jaw drops. I want to snap this man’s neck. I’ve never hated someone so much in my life.

Tommy smirks at me. “You must not have known Rose long. If you did, you wouldn’t look so offended. She wasn’t good for much.”

“That was when she was with you,” Ernestine says. “You got her all strung out, but as soon as you left, Rose sorted her life out. She cleaned up and was doing good things.”

Tommy opens his mouth and then stops, his brow furrowing. “Was?”

Oh, fuck.He doesn’t know.

I look to Ernestine. She looks down at her feet. I can tell her chin is wobbling in her effort to hold back her tears.

To save her the heartache, I speak up. “Rose was killed trying to escape. She died a few days ago.”

For one solitary second, Tommy has the decency to look cowed.

Then, just as quickly as the humanity flickers across his face, it is gone.

He shrugs. “That means this house is mine then. So is June. Now that Rose is dead, none of this shit belongs to you.”

“Rose has a will.” I can tell Ernestine’s legs are shaking, so I walk over and help her sit down at the table. She thanks me and then glares up at Tommy. “Rose left a copy of a will with an attorney. She left me everything.”

“Everything? You make it sound like a lot.”

“June is everything to me,” she says.

I know she means it. They cherish one another. June would hate being away from her. I think the separation would kill Ernestine.

“Do you think anyone would side with you over blood? I’m her father!” Tommy roars. He stalks into the house. “Where is she?”

Ernestine lies instantly. “She’s at school. And you won’t be here when she gets back, Tommy. She doesn’t want to see you. She’s scared of you.”

I glance at the bathroom door. June will be coming out any minute.

“Why would she be scared of me?” Tommy asks, plopping down on the couch. “I’m her dad. I wouldn’t hurt her.”

“You already have hurt her. Over and over again. Just leave.” Ernestine’s voice is wobbly. She’s tired.

I get her a glass of water, moving slowly through the kitchen, trying to blend into the background. Tommy is volatile and I don’t want a physical confrontation.

“Who is this bitch again?” he asks, gesturing to me. “Are you taking in whores now? Has my house become a fuckin’ rescue shelter?”

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